A valuation is often treated as the last step before a transaction. In practice it is the first moment anyone examines the property closely — and that is usually where problems surface.
Commit after the checks, not before
Advances paid, agreements signed and deadlines accepted before the documents have been reviewed are the most common source of avoidable loss.
Ask what could change the figure
A valuer can usually say, early and informally, which details are likely to matter. That conversation costs nothing and frequently saves a great deal.